Fused connector for kitchen range backsplasher panel



P. J. MORE Dec. 7, 1965 FUSED CONNECTOR FOR KITCHEN RANGE BACKSPLASHER PANEL Filed Sept. 11, 1964 fig.

INVENTOR. Z'Z 7%?"6 BYw/ M United States Patent 3,222,478 FUSED CDNNECTOR FOR KITCHEN RANGE BACKSPLASHER PANEL Philip J. More, Evanston, Ill., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 395,836 3 Claims. (Cl. 200-4155) This invention relates to fused electrical connection devices, and in particular, to a connection device arranged to be mounted on the control panel or backsplasher panel of a cooking range to provide a convenience outlet for a 110-volt kitchen accessory.

It is almost universal practice among manufacturers of gas and electric ranges to provide a convenience outlet on the backsplasher panel of the range. Underwriters Laboratories requires that the circuit serving the convenience outlet be provided with an overload protection device such as a fusible link or an overload responsive circuit breaker. Because of the fact that it is very seldom that an electrical overload is caused by a toaster or other appliance normally plugged into such an outlet, manufacturers have largely used the familiar plug fuse rather than the considerably more expensive resettable circuit breaker. An exposed plug fuse on the backsplasher panel would be unsightly, and therefore manufacturers have concealed the fuse within the body of the range. This frequently has the advantage of manufacturing convenience, but the serious disadvantage of being diflicult to get at by the user of the range who is suddenly confronted with an apparent failure of the convenience outlet. Indeed, an appliance service man an swering calls to service such an apparent failure usually finds that the housewife has not the slightest idea of the location of the fuse.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an improved fuse protected convenience outlet having a concealed fuse which is nevertheless immediately available to even the most mechanically unskilled housewife.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fuse protected convenience outlet in which a readily removable portion carries its own fuse in a manner which renders the fuse easily replaceable if the need arises.

I am aware of prior art devices and patents disclosing this concept in a broad sense, but none of the early embodiments appears to have the compact structure and adaptability of my invention. It is a feature of my invention, for example, that the convenience outlet and fuse are disposed on a plug-like receptacle having a flat cap which fits tightly against the wall structure of the backsplasher and may be grasped by the housewife and rotated through a portion of a turn to release the receptacle from the structure which provides connection to the power source. When the cap structure has been removed the plug fuse may be replaced as simply as replacing a lamp bulb in its socket.

Other features and advantages of the invention will best be understood by the following description of the presently preferred embodiment read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the structure with portions of the receptacle cap being broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional elevation taken on lines 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the body portion of the device.

Referring first to FIGURES 2 and 3, the power line and grounding conductors of the terminal device 1 are arranged about an open-ended cylindrical structure of insulation material such as a phenol-formaldehyde condensation product. Specifically, the device 1 has a tubular body portion 2 and a rectangular head 3. The device is intended to be passed through an opening in the wall 4 of a suitable enclosure; in a presently used embodiment the wall 4 is the front wall of the backsplasher of a cooking range (not shown). The wall 4 is clamped between the head 3 and the diametrically opposed resilient fingers 5, said fingers being suitably secured to the body 2 at the base of the grooves 6 provided therein. As is obvious, as the body 2 is passed through the opening in the wall 4, the fingers will yield inwardly and then react to their FIG- URE 3 position as the free ends of the fingers clear the inner surface of the wall. The body 2 is thereby held against withdrawal from the wall and the frictional grip between the edges of the respective fingers and the surface of the wall adequately secures the body 2 against accidental rotation. If a more secure resistance to rotation is desired, the body 2 may be formed with a lug 7 for interfitting relation with a notch (not shown) in the opening of the wall 4.

The body 2 is formed with three other grooves, each of which accommodates an axially extending conductor. As shown in FIGURE 2 line terminals 8 and 10 respectively occupy the grooves 12 and 14; and it will be understood that the grounding terminal 15 occupies a similar groove (not shown). I prefer to construct each of the terminals in two pieces, of which the lower portions are of relatively heavy stock and the upper portions, such as portions 8.1 and 10.1, are of leaf spring quality. Bronze or spring brass of suitable gauge is quite acceptable. The grooves 12 and 14 and the groove accommodating the end of the grounding conductor 15 terminate in radial apertures through the wall of the body 2. These apertures, such as 12.1 and 14.1, expose the upper ends of the leaf spring terminals to the interior of the body 2.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2, the head portion 3 has three slots, respectively 16, 17 and 18, each extending axially into an arcuate groove communicating with one of the side wall apertures. For example, the slot 16 communicates with the axial groove 16.1 which opens into the terminal aperture 12.1; slot 17 communicates with the groove 17.1 which opens into the aperture accommodating the resilient terminal 15.1; and slot 18 communicates with the arcuate groove 18.1 which opens into the terminal aperture 14.1. These slots and grooves removably accommodate the projecting terminals of the receptacle 20, as presently explained.

The receptacle 20 comprises a cylindrical body portion 21 and a cap portion 22, the latter being formed about its periphery with vertical grooves or equivalent to facilitate rotation relative to the terminal device 1. The cylindrical body portion is sized to fit easily Within the terminal device With the cap 22 resting upon the head 3. As illustrated, the receptacle 2t) is of the polarized grounded type in which the openings 23, 24 for the blades of an attachment plug (not shown) are of unequal size and the grounding terminal aperture 25 accommodates the usual grounding terminal of the attachment plug. Each of these apertures contains the usual spring bronze contact, such as the respective cont-acts 26, 27 and 28. Each of these contacts has a laterally extending portion which passes between the base of the cylindrical body 21 and an insulating plate 30 of vulcanized fiber or similar material. The contacts 26 and 28 terminate in the upwardly extending portions 26.1 and 28.1 respectively. These portions extend radially outwardly of the body portion 21 to pass freely along the respective arcuate slots 16.1

and 17.1 with relatively little vertical clearance. A third terminal 31 electrically connects to the shell 32 of a plug fuse receptacle 33 fastened to the fiber plate 30. Terminal 31 has an upwardly extending end 31.1 which is accepted by slot 18.1. The terminal portions 26.1, 28.1 and 31.1 make resilient electrical connection with the 3 respective terminals 8.1, 1&1 and 15.1 as appears in FIG- URES l and 2. Plug blade contact 27 provides the terminal portion 27.1 for electrical connection with the base terminal of the conventional plug fuse which the receptacle 33 accommodates. When such a fuse is placed Within its receptacle 33 and the receptacle 20 is in its operating position, it is obvious that one of the attachment plug blades will have a direct connection to line terminal 8 and that the other blade will be connected to line terminal 10 through the plug fuse. The grounding blade of the attachment plug will have a direct connection to the grounding terminal 15.

Assuming that one has reason to believe that the fuse has blown, it is a very simple task to rotate the receptacle 2t) counterclockwise of FIGURE 1 until the respective outwardly extending terminal portions engage the side wall of the notches in the head 3 whereupon the receptacle and its fuse may be removed from the body 2. The fuse may be inspected and replaced if necessary and the receptacle returned. The radially extending contacts 26.1, 28.1 and 31.1 are seated within the respective slots 16, 17 and 18 and the cap 22 rotated in a clockwise direction until the contacts engage with the spring terminals and come to rest against the end wall of the terminal apertures. The angular disposition of the slots is such that the receptacle 28 may be inserted only in its proper relationship to the line terminals.

When the receptacle 20 has been removed from the terminal device 1 the free ends of the contacts 8.1, 10.1 and 15.1 are at a sufficient distance from the interior of the body 2 to make it almost literally impossible for any contact to be engaged by ones finger. This is particularly true in view of the fact that the finger of an adult, or even of a child of sulficient size to reach back to the backsplasher of the range, is substantially Wider than the aperture opening.

Although it is contemplated that the body portion 2 of the device will always be in an enclosure, the fact that the terminal portions are each housed within a relatively deep slot makes it possible to insert an insulating sleeve (not shown) over the entire body portion if it is necessary to install the device in a location which might be sub ect to accidental contact or moisture.

While there has been described what is at present thought to be preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, means providing a mounting panel and an enclosure arranged to accommodate power wires and a grounding Wire, said panel having an aperture opening into said enclosure, an open ended cylindrical body of insulation material adapted to be passed through said aperture, means on said cylinder to efiect a clamping engagement with said panel to prevent axial movement of said cylinder in either direction, first and second and third conductor elements extending axially along the exterior of said cylinder in angular displacement one from the other and arranged respectively for permanent connection to said power wires and said grounding wire, each said conductor element including a portion of leaf spring quality presenting an exposed resilient contact face to the interior of said cylinder, an insulating cap having a cylindrical body portion for axial insertion into said cylinder and subsequent rotation therein, means effective upon such rotation to secure said cap relative to said cylinder, contact means wherein said cap for connection to the blade terminals and a grounding terminal of a polarized attachment plug, conductor means on the exterior of said cap body portion to make electrical connection between said contact means and the resilient contact faces of the respective first,

second and third conductor elements upon securement of said cap within said cylinder, and means providing a shell contact and a base contact for removably receiving a plug fuse on the rear of said cap substantially coaxial therewith, said shell and base contacts placing such a fuse in a series electrical circuit between one of the bladeconnectible contact means of said cap and a cylinder c0nductor element other than the grounding element.

2. In combination, an open ended cylindrical body of insulation material adapted to be secured to a mounting panel at which first and second power wires are accessible, said cylindrical body being open at the panel securernent end and having a wall structure extending radially from said opening for overlying engagement with the panel, first and second conductor elements disposed in axially extending recesses along the exterior of said body in angular displacement one from the other and arranged respectively for connection to said first and second power wires, each said conductor element terminating in an exposed resilient contact facing interiorly of said cylinder, an insulating cap having a radially extending face portion and a body portion for axial insertion into said cylinder and subsequent rotation therein, means effective upon such rotation to removably secure said cap relative to said cylinder with the face portion of said cap in tight surface engagement with said flat Wall structure of the cylindrical body, contact means within said face portion for connection to the blade terminals of an attachment plug, conductor means extending radially from said cap body portion to make electrical connection with the resilient contact faces of the respective first and second conductor elements upon securement of said cap within said cylinder, and means at the rear of said body portion providing first and second contacts for a fuse element, said lastnamed contacts placing such a fuse in a series electrical circuit between one of the blade-connectible contact means of said cap and one of said cylinder-body conductor elements.

3. In combination, an open ended cylinder of insulation material adapted to be secured to structure at which first and second power wires are accessible, said cylinder having a fiat wall structure extending radially from one end, first and second conductor elements disposed in axially extending recesses along the exterior of said cylinder in angular displacement one from the other and arranged respectively for connection to said first and second power wires, each said conductor terminating in an exposed contact facing interiorly of said cylinder below said flat Wall structure, an insulating cap having a radially extending face portion and a body portion for axial insertion into said cylinder and subsequent rotation therein, contact means within said face portion for connection to the blade terminals of an attachment plug, conductor means extending radially from said cap body portion to make electrical connection with certain of the said exposed contacts of said first named conductors, Wall means providing axially extending slots in the said cylinder fiat Wall structure adjacent the open end of said cylinder to accommodate the axial entry of said radially extending conductor means, means providing a passage between said axially extending slots and the respective exposed contacts of said cylinder to accommodate the movement of said radially extending conductor means into engagement with said certain contacts while securing said cap body portion against removal from said cylinder, means providing a shell contact and a base contact for removably receiving a plug fuse on the rear of said cap coaxial therewith, and conductor means for placing said fuse in a series electrical circuit between one of the blade-connectible contact means and another of said cylinder conductor elements.

No references cited.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

HERBERT A. LEWITTER, Assistant Examiner. 

2. IN COMBINATION, AN OPEN ENDED CYLINDRICAL BODY OF INSULATING MATERIAL ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A MOUNTING PANEL AT WHICH FIRST AND SECOND POWER WIRES ARE ACCESSIBLE, SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY BEING OPEN AT THE PANEL SECUREMENT END AND HAVING A WALL STRUCTURE EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM SAID OPENING FOR OVERLYING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PANEL, FIRST AND SECOND CONDUCTOR ELEMENTS DISPOSED IN AXIALLY EXTENDING RECESSES ALONG THE EXTERIOR OF SAID BODY IN ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT ONE FROM THE OTHER AND ARRANGED RESPECTIVELY FOR CONNECTION TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND POWER WIRES, EACH SAID CONDUCTOR ELEMENT TERMINATING IN AN EXPOSED RESILIENT CONTACT FACING ITNERIORLY OF SAID CLYINDER, AN INSULATING CAP HAVING A RADIALLY EXTENDING FACE PORTION AND A BODY PORTION FOR AXAIL INSERTION INTO SAID CYLINDER AND SUBSEQUENT ROTATION THEREIN, MEANS EFFECTIVE UPON SUCH ROTATION TO REMOVABLY SECURE SAID CAP RELATIVE TO SAID CYLINDER WITH THE FACE PORTION OF SAID CAP IN TIGHT SURFACE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLAT WALL STRUCTURE OF THE CYLINDRICAL BODY, CONTACT MEANS WITHIN SAID FACE PORTION FOR CONNECTION TO THE BLADE TERMINALS OF AN ATTACHMENT PLUG, CONDUCTOR MEANS EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM SAID CAP BODY PORTION TO MAKE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH THE RESILIENT CONTACT FACES OF THE RESPECTIVE FIRST AND SECOND CONDUCTOR ELEMENT UPON SECUREMENT OF SAID CAP WITHIN SAID CYLINDER, AND MEANS AT THE REAR OF SAID BODY PORTION PROVIDING FIRST AND SECOND CONTACTS FOR A FUSE ELEMENT, SAID LASTNAMED CONTACTS PLACING SUCH A FUSE IN A SERIES ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BETWEEN ONE OF THE BLADE-CONNECTIBLE CONTACT MEANS OF SAID CAP AND ONE OF SAID CYLINDER-BODY CONDUCTOR ELEMENTS. 